............................................................................ : : : SOFT-DOX FOR: : : : : H O W A B O U T A N I C E G A M E O F C H E S S ! : : : : WRITTEN BY -> DARC DEATHE : : : :............................................................................: IMPORTANT NOTE - READ THIS: Because of the protection scheme used on HOW ABOUT A NICE GAME OF CHESS! it may not work on some machines. This is the same on the krack as well as the origional. If your copy bombs after pressing return after the brief introduction, here are a few things you might want to try: adjust the drive speed (very critical), write-protect the disk, and boot from a cold start (turn the computer off then on). Any additional info on this will be posted if it is found out. This happens with the origional too, some companies sure pay for lousy protection schemes... HOW ABOUT A NICE GAME OF CHESS! is based on Odesta's CHESS 7.0. If you have played it before, you recognize the simularity. These soft-dox will explain the various commands, but not explain how to play chess, you should be able to find out that on your own. During the game, the disk must be kept in drive one at all times, because it will access the disk from time to time. The program can be used with keyboard, joystick, or mouse (even the ][c). The keyboard controls are the two arrow keys to move the cursor and return to accept something. The joystick/paddles work like the arrow keys and the button is like the return key. Using the mouse changes a few things in the program, these diffences will be pointed out as we go along. If you have a mouse, the program will assume you are using it. Hit "P" from the demo if you do not wish to use the mouse. When playing, you will only be allowed to move the cursor to legal posistions. (sorry, no cheating) With the mouse, you may move the cursor anywhere on the screen, but only legal posistions will light up and accept moves. After booting up, hit "RETURN" from the demo for keyboard mode, or press the button for joystick/paddle mode. What follows is a dictionary of the commands: ============================================================================== AUTO: Instructs the CHESS program to play both sides of the game. After choosing this, you will be asked to set the skill level for black. This way you can have two different level players playing. To stop the game, press return or the button. MOUSE: To select black's level, you must use the level option from the menu and then select "AUTO" a second time. Then play will begin. ============================================================================== BACK: This command will retract the move(s) that were played on the board. SPECIAL FEATURES: REPLAY: Replace the retracted moves one by one. RESUME: Start as if the "BACK" option had not been selected. RETRUN: All moves will be replayed untill the board is back the way it was. ============================================================================== <- BOARD: This option puts the cursor on the board, allowing you to play. MOUSE: This option is not present. ============================================================================== CHANGE: Using this option, you can create any specific board posistion. After choosing this, the menu will dissapear and you can move the cursor to the board. Place the cursor on any square that you want to change and press return/button. then cycle through the pieces to put there with the arrow keys or joystick. press return/button when you have found the piece you want. NOTE: You many not leave change mode if one of the kings are missing or if a king is in check, it must be it's move. ============================================================================== FLIP: The purpose of this feature is to change the perspective of the board by turning it 180 degrees. This is so that the board will seem "natural" if you have switched sides. ============================================================================== ^GAME: Directs the cursor to move from the "<- TUTOR" menu to the game features menu. ============================================================================== INWARD: This is a feature that will show waht chess pieces are affecting any specific square. After selecting this, move the cursor to any piece and press return/button and it will highlight all squares attacking or defending it. Nice option, eh? ============================================================================== LEVEL: This option allows you to adjust the playing strength of the CHESS program. LEVEL ! AVERAGE MOVE TIME ! # OF MOVES LOOKED AHEAD ------+-------------------+------------------------ 0 ! 1 SEC. ! 0 1 ! 5 SEC. ! 0-1 2 ! 5 SEC. ! 0-1 3 ! 10 SEC. ! 0-1 4 ! 10-20 SEC. ! 0-2 5 ! 20-40 SEC. ! 1-3 6 ! 40-80 SEC. ! 2-4 7 ! 1-2 MIN. ! 2-4 8 ! 1-3 MIN. ! 2-5 9 ! 2-6 MIN. ! 3-6 If the play ever gets too long for you, just hit return/button and it will use the best move it has found so far. Level 0 is pretty easy. ============================================================================== LIST: This will allow you to see the game record for the game. ============================================================================== MANUAL: In this mode, the program will not make a move for either side, thus two people may play a game with computer moderation. ============================================================================== ^ ! OPTION: v This moves the cursor from the board to the option menu. ============================================================================== OUTWARD: This will show which squares and pieces are affected by any specific piece. The choosing of piece is as with "INWARD". I love these options. (make sure I don't miss anything, though it is like cheating, kinda) ============================================================================== PRACTICE: Allows you to enter the board and try-out moves (available with "<- TUTOR") ============================================================================== PROGRAM: Instructs the program to make the next move when in "MANUAL" mode. ============================================================================== QUIT: Reboots. ============================================================================== RESTART: This is used to set-up a the board for a new game. ============================================================================== RESUME: Restores the game to its most advanced point. It is used after a "BACK" is used or if "RERUN" is stopped. ============================================================================== SWITCH: This option instructs the program to switch sides in a game. ============================================================================== <- TUTOR: This is the "doorway" to the special menu of instuctional and reference material. From there you may choose different chapters (ie. "CH1") The rest of it is pretty self-explanitory. ============================================================================== Well, the rest of the program is pretty self-explanitory. I probably made this too long, but what the hell, at least it is complete. If you still have any questions or want the origional dox, leave me E-Mail on any of these excellent systems: The Ph.B.I. [612] 699-5657 Sysops: Black Knight / Darc Deathe The Curse [612] 920-3576 Sysop : The Incognito The Safehouse [612] 724-7066 Sysop : Apple Bandit <$> DARC DEATHE <$>